Johnny Lytle is not the only vibraharpist who began his professional life as a drummer. So did Lionel Hampton and Cal Tjader, among others. Lytle's style, however, had an even more pronounced link to his drum heritage. Percussive almost to a fault, Lytle kept his precision and brittle sound in balance with a melodic gift and a blues orientation that made his improvisations immediately identifiable. In this album, recorded nearly a year before Lytle's celebrated The Village Caller! (OJCCD-110-2), Producer Orrin Keepnews placed him in the company of two soloists equally imbued with the blues, tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin and pianist Bobby Timmons. All were supported by the matchless rhythm duo of bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes.